Chichester City Ladies beat Cardiff to put pressure on leaders

Hayley Newman

Molly Clark’s seventh goal of the season meant Chichester City stayed second in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier ss it secured a 1-0 win at home to Cardiff City.

It was a dominant performance from the hosts who forced the Cardiff City goalkeeper to make some good saves.

The only goal came in the 40th minute from Clark with a bicycle kick and then some solid defending meant Chi bagged the three points.

Chi took control of the game early on – their first home league match for several weeks – and looked to press a Cardiff side filled with Welsh international players.

Hollie Wride watched her early free-kick sail over the bar before Clark struck from 45 yards without testing the keeper.

Clark was in the thick of the action and saw her free-kick graze the crossbar. Then the Beach Soccer Women’s Best Player nominee did have the ball in the back of the net but was offside as she slotted in the rebound from a saved Gemma Simmonds volley.

The action was being contained in the Cardiff half as Khassal fired straight at the keeper and Clark forced a quick reaction from the stopper as Chi searched for a second.

Cardiff managed to break from Clark’s attack but were denied by Rebecca Barron and Dolbear smothered the ball.

Dolbear made another good block by making herself big and getting down low to deny Cardiff a sniff of goal.

Sub Helen Ogle was making her presence known to the Cardiff defence, trying to nip one past the keeper, and she dragged the shot-stopper out again trying to set up Khassal who couldn’t find the target.

Cardiff threatened only rarely, and the Chi defence remained calm under pressure from quick counters before the final whistle came.

The win leaves Chi second and just a point off league leaders Coventry United.